Phonograph



March 17, 1936.

M. L. 0RD

PHONOGRAPHV Filed Jan. 21, 1929 12 Shets-Shet 1 March 17, 1936. M, QRD 2,034,245

PHONOGRAPH Filed Jan. 21, 1929 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 17, 1936. M. 0RD 2,034,245

. PHONOGRAPH Filed Jan. 21, 1929 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 M. L. 0RD

PHONOGRAPH March 17, 1936.

Filed Jan. 21, 1929 12 Sheets-Sheet 4- M44001. 4. aka,

March 17, 1936. 0 034,245

BHQNCSGRAPH Filed Jan. 21, 1929 I 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 dag March 17, 1936. M. L. 0RD 2,034,245

PHONCGRAPH Fil ed Jan. 21, 1929 12 Sheets-Sheet 6 136 lmztzn O f/Al-COLM Low,

March 17, 1936. M, 0RD 2,034,245

PHONOGRAPH v Filed Jan. 21, 1929 12 Sheets-Sheet 7 wen/lion?" MALCOLM L 0IPD March-17, 1936. M. L. 0RD 2,034,245

' PHONOGRAPH Filed Jan. 21. 1929 1a Sheets-Sheet '8 O LCOLI/VI L. 0 490 March 17, 1936. M. 0RD

' PHONOGRAPH Filed Jan. 21. 1929 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 cauvz. aka,

Msu'ch 1' 7, 1936.

' M. 1.. 0RD 2,034,245

PHONOGRAPH Filed Jan. 21. 1929 12 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 Patented Mar. 17, 1936 UNITED STATES PATEN One of the objects of this invention is to provide an automatic phonograph which will play in succession a series of records placed in the magazine thereof, and which will, if desired,

10 play both sides of each record either in order or otherwise. 3

Another object is to provide such a phonograph which will play a succession of records at I brief intervals so that a long pause between records is eliminated.

Another object-is to provide such a phonograph with novel means for inverting a record so as to play both sides thereof in succession.

Another object is to provide such a phono- 20 graph which will handle records of any size and in whatever order they may be placed in the machine.

Another object is to provide such a phonograph in which the action of the mechanism for 23 changing or inverting records is started at a predetermined interval after or before finishing the playing of any record irrespective of the size or make of the record.

Another object is to provide such a phono- ZJ- graph with novel mechanism whereby the tone arm is lifted from the record at the completion of the playing thereof, and returned to the starting point 'of the new record and which is automaticallyvadjusted to the size of the record so :2? that the proper starting point will be set irrespective of the size of the record.

Another objectis to provide novel mechanism for feeding the tone arm across the record which will function properly irrespective of the pitch of the record groove.

Another object is to provide mechanism whereby the needle is moved radially across the record and so that the axis of the tone arm remains tangent to the record grooves.

45 Another object is to provide such a. phonograph with means for controlling the operation of the various portions of the mechanism so that a record may be changed or inverted at any time during the playing thereof.

50 Another object is to provide such a phonograph so arranged that a part of the automatic features may be rendered inoperative and the machine used as a single record phonograph manually controlled, as to some of its operation.

Another object is to provide such a phonograph with means adapted to compensate for variations in the dimensions of the records so that each record is properly centered when placed upon the playing table irrespective of the size of the record or inaccuracies in its dimensions.

Another object is to provide for a combination local and distance control for placing in operation, the various movements of the instrument in order to effect a change, repeat or inversion of the records and to start, stop and control the volume of the amplifier.

Other objects will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a rear view of a machine embodying this invention with the casing removed;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional view taken about on line 4-4, Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail of Fig. 4; i

Fig. 6 is a detail section taken on line 6-6, Fig. 4; r

Figs. 7 and 8 are details of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a partial sectional view taken about on line 99, Fig. 1; I

Fig. 10 is a detail view somewhat enlarged of the tone arm returning mechanism;

Fig. 11 is asection on line Il-I I, Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a perspective detail of the record inverting mechanism;

Figs. 13, 14, 15 and 16 are diagrams illustrating the operation of the record inverting cam;

Fig. 1'? is a further detail of the tone arm mechanism illustrating the means for timing the be ginning of the operation for changing the records;

Fig. 18 is a plan view of Fig. 17;

Figs. 19, 20 and 21 are details of Figs. 17 and 18; and

Fig. 22 is an electric. circuit diagram showing the electrical connections of the various relays which control the operation of the machine;

Fig. 23 is a sectional view of the remote control device;

Fig. 24 is an end view of the'same;

Fig. 25 is a section on line 2525, Fig. 23; and

Fig. 26 is a sectional View of the cable reel.

Referring to the drawings, I designates a supporting plate upon which the greater part 01.- the mechanism is mounted. This plate may be suitably supported on a base and enclosed in a suitable cabinet or the like, in accordance with the usual practice. The base, cabinet, and other non-essential features have been omitted from the drawings so as to save space and avoid unnecessary complications.

Driving mechanism Mounted on the plate but near the bottom thereof is an electric motor 2 which is connected through suitable gearing 3 to drive the vertical shaft 4. The shaft 4 is connected by a worm or bevel gear 5 with a horizontal shaft 5 mounted on suitable bearings 1 on the plate I. Mounted on the shaft 5 to be driven thereby is a series of automatic clutches 8, 9, III and II. These clutches are arranged to drive different sub-sections of the mechanism as will be more fully described hereinafter. These clutches are so arranged that they are held idle or disconnected from the shaft 8 by the engagement of a dog on the clutch with a suitable stop interposed in its path. This is arranged in such a way that by removing the stop so as to release the dog the clutch is automatically connected to be driven by the shaft. This connection is maintained until the stop is again interposed in the path of tie dog, usually after one revolution when its move ment is again arrested. For a detail description of these clutches reference may be had to United States Letters Patent No. 1,508,986, issued to Malcolm L. 0rd, September 16, 1924. The shaft 5 is further connected by a bevelled gear I2 to operate the driving member I3 of a Geneva gear I3I4, which operates to turn the turret carrying the playing tables, as will be described hereinafter.

Playing mechanism Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, mounted on a shaft suitably Journalled in a hearing I5 mounted on the plate I is a rotatable turret I6 having a plurality of forwardly extending arms I1. In thercase illustrated, 4 arms are provided, each of which has fixed therein a hollow bearing I8 having rotatable thereon a hollow hub I9 of and carrying a rotatable table 28 upon which the record may be placed for playing. Within the hollow bearing I9 is mounted a pin 2I yieldingly held by a spring 22 so that its outer end projects beyond the face of the table 20 in a position to receive a record. The spring 22 renders the pin 2| yieldable to pressure against the end thereof for a purpose which will later be described.

Each table 28 is provided on its under side with a bevelled friction driving face 23 adapted to engage a correspondingly bevelled frictional driving cone 24 when the table 20 is in its uppermost position as shown in Fig. 2. The cone 24 is carried by a shaft 25 mounted in a hearing at right angles to the plate I and passing through a perforation therein to the rear thereof where it is connected by worm gearing 28 to be driven by the shaft 4.

The shaft which carries the turret I3 passes through a perforation in the plate I to the rear thereof and mounted on said shaft in rear of the plate I is the driven member I4 of the Geneva gear. It will be seen that the operation of the Geneva gear rotates the turret I6 through onefourth of a revolution at a time so as to bring the different playing tables 20 successively into the uppermost or playing position. In this position the table comes into frictional engagement with the driving cone 24, which rotates continue .5 while the machine is in operation, to be driven thereby for the purpose of playing the record.

The record magazine Referring more particularly to Figs. 3 to 8 inclusive, mounted to slide longitudinally of the machine are two magazines, one for holding the records before playing and to transfer the same to the playing tables and the other to receive the played records from the playing tables. Each magazine comprises a frame 21 provided at its lower portion with grooved rollers 28 operating in slots 29. in the plate I. The upper part of the frame 21 is provided with brackets 38 extending through a slot 3| in the plate I, and carrying rollers 32 hearing against the rear side of the plate so as to support the magazine in an overhanging position in front of the plate. Mounted on shafts 33 extending between the frames 21 on each end of the magazine are three record supports 34. Each of these supports is formed as shown in Patent No. 1,508,986 and is provided with two helical grooves having the same pitch but different depths. The depths of the two sets of grooves are adjusted so that 12 inch records may be supported in the deep grooves and 10 inch records in the shallow grooves. Each shaft 33 is provided at the outer end thereof with a sprocket 35, and a chain 36 passes over all three sprockets and a driving sprocket 31 mounted on. a stub shaft 38 which carries at its end a spur gear 39. The spur gear 33 meshes with an elongated gear- 40 connected to be driven 'by one or the other of the clutches I0 andI I. The gear ratios are such that upon operation of the clutches I0 and II through one revolution the helical supports 34 are each rotated through one revolution. During this movement a record set in any of the grooves will be advanced by the screw action of these holders a distance equal to the pitch of the helical groove.

One of these movable magazines is mounted on each side of the turret I8, as shown in Fig. 3. Mechanism is provided for moving these two magazines simultaneously toward the turret so as to transfer a record from one magazine to a playing table on the turret, and so as to take another record from the opposite playing table and. deposit it in the other magazine. This mechanism comprises a lever 4I Fig. 1, pivoted nally extending links 42 and 43; these links are pivoted at their ends to brackets 44 on the frames 21 of the magazines. In order to provide for these connections and to allow for the movement thereof openings 45 are cut in the plate I. Pivoted to the end of the link 43 is a link 55 pivoted at 45 to a gear 41 meshing with a smaller gear 48 on a stub shaft whichalso carries a bevelled gear 49 driven by a'pinion 50 on the shaft 5. The gear 49 bears a one to two ratio to the gear 41 and is connected to the stub shaft through a clutch-5| (see Fig. 3). The clutch 5| is similar in its construction and operation to the clutches 8 and 9, previously described, and has a dog 52 which stands before a shoulder 53 one. lever 54 pivoted at 55 on the plate I, and having its other end positioned for engagement by the lugs 2I4 of the Geneva gear when the latter rotates.

Rotation of the member I4 in turning the turret brings lugs 2I4 successively into engagement with the end of the lever 54 so as to swing shoulder 53 out of engagement with the dog 52. This permits the clutch to connect the gear 48 so as to be driven through one revolution. This movement moves the gear 41 through one half revolution which acts through the links 58, 48 and 42 to drawthe two magazines inwardly toward the turret. This movement carries the left hand magazine, Fig. 3, close enough to the playing table""facing it on the turret so that a record mounted in the ends of the supports 84 will be brought against the yieldable pin 2| of that playing table. The magazine is so located that the pin 2| will engage the record slightly above the central hole thereof. The purpose of this will be explained presently. The right hand magazine, Fig. 3, is brought by the above described movement to such a position that the ends of the grooves in the supports 34 stand opposite a record which may be carried on the pin 2|. Just before the magazines have reached these positions arms 51 (Fig. 1) of pivoted bell crank levers (whose other arms 58 are in the paths of the dogs of the clutches i0, and II) are engaged by trips 59 mounted on the frames 2'! of the magazine.

This engagement acts to swing the bell crank levers on their pivots so as to carry the arms 58 out of engagement with the dogs of the clutches I 8 and II. This permits the clutches to act so that the gears 48 are connected to be driven by the shaft 6. Movement of the gears 40 acts to drive the gears 39 which have during the inward movement of the magazines been sliding along the gears 40, so as to drive the supports 34 each through one revolution. The bell crank levers and the trips are held against stops by springs shown in Fig. l; accordingly when the arms 51 engage the trips, these arms are moved by and beyond the trips so as to permit the bell crank lever springs to snap the levers back in order to place the arms 51 again in the paths of the clutch dogs to again disengage the clutches after one revolution. When the magazines again move inwardly the arms can move freely under the trips.

As the supports 34 are turned through one revolution the helical groove on the left hand magazine, Fig. 3, acts to feed the records forward thereon so that the end record is fed further toward the playing table on that side of the turret. At the same time the corresponding movement on the right hand magazine, Fig. 3, causes the ends of the grooves in the supports 34 to engage the record supported on the pin 2| of the right hand playing table and by the screw action thereof to carry this record oil? of the pin and retain it in the magazine.

As previously stated, the magazine which feeds the records to the playing tables is positioned a little low so that the record will approach the pin 2| with its central hole slightly lower than said pin. The purpose of this construction is to provide for properly centering records of different diameters. This is necessary on account of the fact that records of the same nominal diameter are not uniform in their dimensions but vary to such an extent that a permanent alinement with the pins 2| is impractical. In order, therefore, to mount a record on the pin 2| the inner end of frame 21 of the left hand magazine, Fig. 3, is provided with a downwardly extending guide 88 adapted to receive the shank 8| of a bracket 82 having at its upper portion a pair of'spaced'pins 63 adapted to engage the lower edge of a record. The shank 6| carries a pin 84 engaging the slotted end of a bell crank lever arm. 65 pivoted at 88 and whose other arm .81 is connected by a spring 88 to a lever 89, also pivoted at 86. The'upper end of the lever 89 ispositionedto engage an eccentric cam mounted on the shaft which carries the elongated gear 48.

When the gear 48 is rotated in order to rotate the supports 34, the cam 10 swings the lever 89 outwardly. This lever acts through the spring 68 to yieldingly swing the bell crank lever on its pivot, thereby raising the bracket 82. This causes the pins 83 to engage the lower edge of the record which has been brought against the pin 2| of the left hand playing table, Fig. 3, which pin has been pressed inwardly against its spring. The movement of the bracket 62 is of suflicient extent to engage a record of any size and raise the same until its central hole comes opposite the pin 2|, whereupon said pin snaps into the hole so as to support the record. The record has, previous to this, been fed off of the supports 34 and is now supported entirely by the pin 2|. Upon reference to Fig. 4 it will be noted that the pins 63 support the record at a sufliciently spaced distance circumferentially of the record so that the central hole thereof will be always laterally aligned with the pin 2|.

Record inverting mechanism In accordance with this invention both sides of a record may be played in succession. In order to accomplish this, the record after playing one side is removed from the playing table, inverted, and replaced so that the reverse side may be played before changing records. The mechanism for accomplishing this movement is shown more particularly in Figs. 1, 9 and 12 to 15 inclusive. Pivoted on a bearing 1|, Fig. 12, on a bracket 12 mounted on the plate I is a channel shaped guide l3. Mounted to slide in the guide 13 is a pair of telescoping members 14 and 15, equ pped at their ends with curved arms 16 and H. These arms are equipped at their ends with gripping elements 18 and 19, each comprising a short bar pivoted at its center on the arm'and provided at its ends with notched fingers 80. of a suitable material such as rubber. The member. 18 while pivoted on the arm i6 is held frictionally as by a spring 180 on its shank. In the case of the gripping member 19, its pivot 8| extends through an arcuate slot M9, in the plate I, whose center is concentric with the pivot bearing 1|, and is equipped at the rear of said plate with a cross arm 82 carrying at its ends spaced pins 83 and 84. The guide 13 has attached thereto a lever arm 85 which has pivoted to the end thereof a link 88 having its other end pivoted Mechanism is provided which will be more fully described hereinafter, for operating the crank 81 so as to draw the link 88 downwardly thereby swinging the guide 13 on its pivot H in order to swing the arms 18 and TI upwardly.

The members I4 and I5 are held in relative contracted relation by a spring 89 (Fig. 12) connecting pins 90, the pin in the member 14 extending through a slot 9| in the member 15 (Fig. 9) the pins project beyond these members on both sides. Pivoted on a bracket 92 on the plate I is a pair of levers 93 whose upper ends are positioned between the pins 90. Intermediate their ends the levers .93 pass on opposite sides of the shaft 6, as shown in Fig. 9. Mounted on a sleeve 94 on-the shaft 8 is a pair of eccentric earns 95 one of which is positioned to engage each of the levers 93. The sleeve 94 is arranged to be connected for rotation by the clutch 9. The.

cams 95 operate upon rotation of the sleeve 94 to spread the levers 93 apart. The latter, during such movement, engage the pins 90 so as to separate the arms 16 and I1. Uuon further rotation, the arms 93 are permitted to collapse so that the arms 15 and I1 are brought together in order that the fingers 80 may engage the edges of a record 96 on the playing table. In order to insure proper centering of the record a pair of links 91, Fig. 9, connected at their ends to the members I4 and 15, by pins 90, are pivoted together at 98 on a pivot adapted to slide in a vertical slot in an upstanding bracket 99 upon the guide 13.

The sequence of operation is such that the arms Hi-11, being normally held separated are brought together so as to engage the record 96 and thereafter the guide I3 is rocked on its pivot II so as to swing the arms upwardly to lift the record from the table. During this movement the pins 83 and 84 travel in a cam slot I00 of special form in a cam plate IOI mounted on suitable supports I02 Figs. 1-2, on the plate I. The cam slot is of peculiar form, as shown in Figs. 12 to 15 inclusive. Figs. 13 and 14 illustrate the movementof thepins in the slot during the upward movement of the arms, while Figs. 15 and 16 illustrate their action during the downward movement. During the first part of the upward movement, the pin 83 engages the upper edge of the left hand arm of the cam slot while the pin 84 moves freely in the other arm of the slot. At the completion of the first part of this movement, the pin 84 is moving in advance'of the pin 83 and leaves the lower arm of the slot earlier than the pin 83. By this time the record has taken up a definite velocity of rotation on the pivots provided by the gripping members and has accumulated some momentum of rotation. This momentum carries the pin 84 upwardly after it leaves a lower branch of the slot so that upon further movement it passes to the upper side of the point I03of the cam plate. Following this movement of rotation the pin 83 then enters the right hand branch of the upper portion of the slot.

By the time the limit of movement has been reached the relative positions of the pins 83 and 84 have been practically reversed. -Referring now to Figs. 15 and 16, which illustrate the subsequent downward movement, the pin 84 is carried into engagement with the upper edge of the left hand branch of the upper portion of the cam slot. It will be seen that such engagement forces the pin 84 downwardly along the edge of the slot until it finally enters the left hand branch of the lower portion of the slot which was formerly occupied by the pin 83. Further movement carries the pin 83 into the right hand branch of the lower portion of the slot and eventually the record is returned to the playing table in inverted position.

It will be noted that this movement not only operates to invert the record by a simple up and down movement, of the arms, but the movement of the record is carried out in a peculiar manner. As seen in Fig. 1 3, the record is lifted from the table in such a manner that its left band edge is retarded and kept low so as to avoid again depressed before lowering the record to the table. Accordingly all liability of bringing the record into contact with the reproducer is avoided.

Tone arm mechanism The mechanism for operating the tone arm is illustrated more particularly in Figs. 1, 10, 11 and 17 to 21 inclusive. Mounted for vertical sliding movement in a window I04 cut in the plate I is a bracket I05 upon which are mounted a lower rail I06 and an upper rail I01. Mounted to roll on ball bearings on the rolls I05 and I01, is a carriage I08 carrying a tone arm I09 having pivoted thereto at H0, a reproducer III. A lead screw H2 is mounted on bearings on the plate I and is connected by suitable gearing to be driven from the shaft 4. The pitch of the lead screw H2 may be the same as that usually met with in playing records so that the movement of the tone arm may keep pace with that of the record. A half nut II3 on the carriage I08 is arranged to engage the lead screw H2.

The clutch 8 (Fig. 1) is arranged to connect for rotation with the shaft 6 a gear H4 meshing with a gear I I5 having pivoted thereto a link H9 pivoted at its upper end to the bracket I05. The gear ratio between the gears H4 and H5 is one to two, so that the latter gear will make one half revolution while the former makes a complete revolution. When the clutch 8 is engaged, therefore, the gear H5 rotating through a half revolution will raise the bracket I05 thereby disengaging nut I I3 from lead screw I I2 and lifting the tone arm and its reproducer clear of the record. The height of liftis made sufficient so that the record may be removed from the table and inverted as previously described.

Pivoted at Hl upon an upward extension I I8 on the bracket I05 is a bell crank lever one arm H9 of which is pivoted to a link I20 while the other arm I2I is connected by a spring I22 with a lever I23 the lower end of which engages a pin I24 on the carriage I 08. The lower end of the lever I 20 has a'slot I25 engaging a pin I26 secured to a bracket on the plate I. When the link H5 operates to slide the bracket I95 upwardly, there is at first a certain amount of lost motion in the movement of the slot I25 over the pin I26. This permits the reproducer to be lifted from the record. After this lost motion has been taken up the link I20 is held by pin I28 with respect to the moving bracket I05 thereby causing the bell crank I I9I 2| to swing on its pivot, and through the spring I22 to draw the lever I23 yieldingly to the left, Fig. 10.

After the upward movement of the bracket I05 has carried nut II 3 out of engagement with the lead screw H2, the lever I23 operates to move the carriage I08, to the left, Fig. 10, so as to return it to the starting point of the record. A subsequent revolution of the gear H4 will operate as described to lower the carriage I08 thereby lowering the tone arm and reproducer into engagement with the record at its starting point and re-engaging the nut I I3 with the lead screw H2. Suitable stops are provided to limit the return movement of the carriage I08 in accordance with the size of the record as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The various clutches controlling the operations already described are arranged to be operated from suitable electric circuits and in proper sequence. The sequence of operations close the operating circuit.

may be considered to start with the completion of the playing of a record. The tone arm I09 carries a switching device adapted to close the electric circuit which initiates the changing operations. This switching device is arranged so as to operate in accordance with the movement of the tone arm but also in accordance with the movement of the reproducer on the record. This is necessary in order that the changing action may be started at a definite interval after the completion of the playing of the record. As some records have grooves of a different pitch from others, arrangements must be made to accomplish the proper circuit closing at the proper time irrespective of the pitch of the record groove or the size of the record.

In accordance with this invention, therefore, the tone arm I09 is pivoted at I21 on the carriage I08. Accordingly the tone arm may swing laterally with respect to the carriage in order to accommodate the difierence of movement between the carriage and the reproducer. Pivoted at I28 on the tone arm is an arm I29 carrying a contact adapted to engage a stationary contact I30 mounted on the carriage I08 in order to A. stop I3I is positioned on the other side of the arm I29 so as to limit the possible spacing of this arm from the contact I30. The pitch of the lead screw H2 is made as small as the smallest pitch of the records liable to be encountered. Accordingly in playing other records having a greater pitch the reproducer will travel ahead of the carriage I08 so as to swing the tone arm forwardly as indicated at I09a, in Fig. 2! This movement brings the arm I29 against the stop I3 I. Further movement of the tone arm will swing the arm I29 on its pivot. As the mounting of this arm at the pivot is a frictional one, the arm will remain set In the new position relatively to the tone arm. When the end of the record groove is reached the reproduce! can, of course, travel no further and as the feed to the carriage I00 by the lead screw I I2 continues the rear end of the tone arm will be carried forward and the arm I29 will be swung into engagement with the contact I30 thereby closing the circuit which starts the changing operations. It will be noted that since the spacing of the arm I29 from thecontact I30 is limited to a definite value the interval between the completion of the playing of a record and the initiation of the changing movements is substantially constant.

When the tone arm is returned to its starting position the arm I29 must also be returned to open circuit position. In order to accomplish th s the following devices are provided. Mounted on the lower rail I05 is an arm I32 which extends rearwardly and upwardly so as to stand in the path of an extension I33 on the tone arm. As the arm is returned this extension strikes the end of the arm I32 which causes the tone arm to swing on its pivot so as to return it to starting arm I29 is swung back so as to open the circuit at the contact I30. The circuit of the contact I30 is made through a clip I31 mounted on the carriage I08 and adapted to engage a contact strip I30 mounted on the upper rail I01. The strip I38 is short enough so that the clip I31 does not contact therewith until after the circuit has been opened at the contact I30. The electrical connections to the strip I33 and the contact I30 may be made in any suitable manner and are not shown as such connections are familiar to those skiled in the art.

Sequence of operations Fig. '22 shows the electrical connections'and mechanism associated therewith in diagrammatic form so that the sequence of operations may be followed therefrom. In this figure I 39 represents an electrical supply line as it enters the device. This may be from any suitable supply circuit, usually a 110 volt house circuit from which power is derived for operating the machine. Connected to the supply I39 is a transformer I40 which reduces the voltage to a low value suitable for operating the various solenoids'tobe described later. The use of the transformer I40 is a matter of convenience. Such a transformer could be dispensed with by winding the solenoids for the line voltage. The motor 2 is also connected to the supply line I39. One of the secondary leads to the transformer I40 is grounded at I4I on plate I. The other lead in connected to a conductor I42 forming a common return for all of the solenoids involved.

Starting with the moment of completion of playing a record and the closing of the circuit at the contact I30 this establishes a ground on a circuit including conductors I43, I44 leading to a switch I45 which is normally closed. From this switch a conductor I40 leads to a solenoid I41 whose plunger acts as a stop for the clutch 8. It will be clear, of course that the closing of the circuit at 130 will cause the solenoid I41 to retract its plunger thereby releasing the clutch 8. The

ction of the clutch 0, as previously described, results in the raising of the tone arm by means of the link H6. As previously described the gear ratio between the clutch 8 and the crank which operates the link H6 is one to two,'so that said crank makes one half revolution while the clutch makes a complete revolution. Said crank is equipped with a contact member represented at I48 adapted to ground the circuit at the contact I49 just before its half revolution is completed. This closes the circuit through a conductor I50 which leads to one of a series of contact brushes which may be designated in pairs, A. B, C, D, E and F. These brushesbear on contact rings on a reel in order to establish circuits to the remote control device which will be described hereinafter. This device is arranged to close the circuit between the pairs of brushes as designated by the above letters.

For the, purpose of identifying the pairs of contacts, A contacts control the starting of the machine; contacts B the stopping; contacts 0 the rejection of any record: contacts D the repeating of any record; contacts E the change of records, and contacts F the re-inversion of a record. Assuming that the contacts E are closed which is the condition for normal operation of the machine, a circuit is established from the conductor I50 through the conductor I5I, contacts E, conduct- "or I52 to the central point I53 of a switch I54.

The switch 154 has an arm adapted to make contact with either of two stationary contacts 15s and I56. Another arm of this switch extends into the path of the driving member I3 of the Geneva gear so as to be engaged thereby during its rotation in order to change the position of the switch from engagement with the contact I to engagement with the contact I56. Assuming the switch in the position shown in full lines in Fig.

22, so as to contact at I55, the circuit is established thereby through a conductor I51 to a solenoid I58 whose plunger-stands in the path of the dog of a clutch I59 which controls theposition. This breaks the circuit to the solenoid I58 and establishes a new circuit through the switch I54. During its rotation the member I3 also engages a contact I60 thereby establishing a ground circuit through conductors I6I and I44, switch I45 and conductor I46 to the solenoid I41. This solenoid'thereupon again releases the clutch 8 so as to cause the mechanism controlled thereby to lower the tone arm upon the new record, said arm having been returned to starting position during its up and down movement as previously described.

The above describes the operation of changing records. When the first face of a new record has been played, the circuit is again closed at contact I30 causing the operation of the solenoid I 41 which controls the raising of the tone arm. This operation again establishes a circuit between the contacts I48 and I49 thereby closing the circuit I50, I5I, E, I52 to the point I53. The switch I54 is, however, in the dotted line position at this time. The circuit, therefore, continues to the contact I56, through conductor I62 to a solenoid I63. This solenoid operates to release the clutch 6 which as previously described, causes the arms 16 and 11 to close so as to grip the record which has just been played. One of the arms 93 which control the action of the arms 16 and 11 carries a contact adapted to engage a stationary contact I64 at the completion of its movement to close the gripping arms. This establishes a. circuit through conductor I65 to a solenoid I66 which acts to release the clutch I61 controlling the operation of the record inverting mechanism through the agency of the link 86. This mechanism then operates to remove the record from the table invert, and replace the same. The link 86 carries a contact adapted on its return movement to engage a stationary contact I68. This link also carries a pin I69 adapted to engage the switch I54 to return it to the full line position, Fig. 22. The clutch I61 is also equipped with a dog I10 adapted to engage a movable stop I when the revolution of the clutch has the clutch 9 which then executes its second half revolution so as to separate the gripping arms and release the record. Upon engagement of the contact on the link 86 with the contact I68 a circuit is established through conductors 210,

I6I, I44, switch I45 andconductor I48 to the solenoid I41 which then acts to lower the tone arm.

It will be seen that the two operations of changing the records and inverting the records, are carried out alternately. Accordingly every record has its two faces played in succession.

A: provision is made in the mechanism for handling both 10 and 12 inch records, the necessary changes may also be controlled electrically. The return movement of the tone arm must be controlled in accordance with the size of the record. In order to do this a solenoid I12 is positioned so that its plunger stands in the path of the carriage I08 providing a stop adapted to arrest the carriage in the starting position for a, 10 inch record.

When a 12 inch record is fed by the magazine on to the playing table its edge engages a dog I13 (Figures 3, 9 and 22) pivoted on the plate I, and held normally in dotted line position, as shown in Fig. 22, so as to stand in the path of the rim of a 12 inch record but beyond the rim of a 10 inch record. The engagement of the record 96 with the dog I13 rotates said dog on its pivot to the full line position, Fig. 22. This causes the lower end of the dog to engage and close the switch I14. When this switch is closed contacting of the member I8 with the contact I60 will establish a circuit through said contact, the conductor I15, switch I14 and conductor I16 to the solenoid I12. The solenoid then retracts its plunger out of the path of the carriage I08. The plunger of this solenoid extends downwardly and is provided with a notch adapted to engage a latch bar 2I5 Fig. 1, spring pressed into engagement therewith. This retains the plunger in retracted position when the solenoid circiilt is again opened. With the plunger thus retracted the next operation of the tone arm returning mechanism will cause the carriage I08 to pass beyond the solenoid so as not to be arrested until it reaches a stop I11 positioned so as to locate the tone arm at the starting point of a 12 inch record. The stop I11 may be connected with a second stop I 18 positioned for a 10 inch record, these stops being interconnected so that by manual operation one or the other may be positioned to engage the carriage I08. The bar 2I5 has-a turned over end I94 (Figure 1) standing in the path of the member I3 so as to be unlatched'by said member at the next record changing operation.

The return circuit from all of the solenoids except I41 and I12 is established by a conductor leading to the transformer I40.

Special operations Closing the circuit at the brushes A establishes a circuit from the supply line I39 through conductors I19, I80, I8I to a solenoid I82 which operates to close the switch I83. The switch I83 establishes a circuit from the conductor I19 through the conductor I84 to the motor 2. This starts the operation of the machine.

Closing the circuit at the brushes B, establishes a circuit from a ground connection I81 through conductor I88 to a solenoid I89 whose other terminal is connected to the common return conductor I85. The solenoid 189 operates to open the switch I83 in order to stop operation of the machine.

As it may be desired at any time to reject a record without playing the same or after the playing has been begun, provision is made for such an operation which may be effected by closing thecircuit at C. This establishes a circuit from the ground connection I81 through the conductor I90, I44, switch I45 etc.,-to the solenoid I41 which starts the operation of changing recorda in the same manner as when the circuit is closed at I30.

In order to repeat the playing of any record the circuit isclosed at brushes D. This establishes a circuit between the conductors I and I50 so that when the playing of the record-is completed and the circuit closed at I30, the normal operation of raising and returning the tone arm will be started by the solenoid I 41. When contact is made, however, between I40 and I49, the circuit being open at this time at E, the circuit is re-established from the ground at I48 through contact I49, conductor I50, brushes D,

conductor I90, I44, switch I45 etc., back to solenoid I41 which operates immediately to lower the tone arm again upon the record. During this time none of the other solenoids have been actuated so that none of the changing operations are carried out. It will be understood, of course, that the contacting devices controlling the circuit'at the brushes A, B, C, D, E and F are operative to close the circuit at only one pair of these brushes at a time.

In order to operate the machine as a single record phonograph so that records may be manually placed upon the playing table and the automatic features duly eliminated a key I9I is provided, which is shown in Fig. 22, diagrammatical- 1y as an eccentric cam and arranged as in the position shown it normally holds the switches I45 and I86, closed. By turning this key so as to bring the cam portion down the switches I45 and I48 are permitted to open while the cam makes contact with a contact I92 connected tothe conductor I16 leading to the solenoid I12. The action of this key, therefore, opens the control circuits.to all the solenoids except I41 and I12, which latter is operated to retract its plunger out of the way of the carriage I08. In playing the machine as a single record phonograph, none of the automatic operations are required except the raising and returning of the tone arm. This op 'eration may be carried out by pressing a push button I93 which grounds the conductor I46 leading to the solenoid I41 thereby operating said solenoid to raise and return the tone arm. When the record has been changed or inverted manually the button I93 is again pressed so as to cause the lowering of the tone arm on the record. Stops I11 and I10 are operated manually in accordance with the size of therecord being used.

It may be desired after one face of a record has been played and the record inverted for playing the other face, to repeat the playing of the first face of this same record. In such a case the inverting of the record may be carried out by closing the circuit at the brushes F. Under these conditions the closing of the contact I30 will operate the solenoid I41 as previously described, to raise the tone arm. In this case, however, when contact is established at I49 the circuit will be closed through I 50, F, I62, to the solenoid I63 which initiates the operation of inverting the record. This operation is then carried out in the manner previously described. As the other circuits are open at this time none of the other operations will be carried out. Accordingly, the same record having been inverted may be played again on its first face.

Remote control devices In order to be able to control the machine from a distant point as for instance, from a chair without leaving the chair, or from other distant points such as another room, the device shown in Figs. 23, to 26, inclusivais provided. Mounted in any suitable manner In'the cabinet which houses the machine, is a cup I95 which provides a housing for the remote control switch. Removably mounted in the cup I95 and frictionally retained therein in any suitable manner is a casing I96 having a hollow bore provided with a bottom or floor I91. Circumferentially arranged in the floor I91 is a series of contacts I98 to which conductors I99 may be connected. These conductors may pass through perforations in the floor I01 after which they are combined into a cable, which may be wound on a spring controlled reel 200 provided with slip rings 20I to which the other ends of the individual conductors I99 are connected. The brushes in pairs, A, B. C, D, E and F are arranged to contact with the slip rings 20!. Fitted within the bore of the casing I96 is a cup shaped member 202 equipped with a contact brush 203 adapted to contact with a ring 204 mounted on the floor I91 and'connected to one of the conductors I99. Another contact 205 is mounted on the member 202 and is arranged so as to bridge any two of the contacts I03.

Mounted within the cup shaped member 202 is a resistance coil 206. Fitted'within the bore of the cup 202 is a plug 201 having yieldingly mounted thereon a secondary contact 208 adapted to engage the central contact I90. A contact brush 200 connected with the contact 200 is mounted on the bottom of the plug 201 and arranged to contact with the resistance coil 206. The cup 202 and the plug 201 may be mounted respectively on the casing I06 and the cup 202 so as to be rotatable therein. This may be accomplished by means of pins 2I0 engaging grooves in the inner member or in any other suitable manner.

It will be noted that the member 202 is rotatable within the casing I 96 so as to cause the contact 205 to bridge any pair of. contacts I98 in order to close the circuit of the brushes A, B, C, D, E and F, for purposes already set forth.v The coil 205 with the brush 209 provide an aifiustable rheostat which may be connected in the circuit to the reproducer or any amplifier which may be connected thereto so as to control the volume of sound produced. As seen in Fig. 24,

the ends of the members I 96, 202 and 201, may

\ their positions the circuits controlled.

This remote control device provides a convenient means for operating the machine without leaving ones chair. The casing I96 with its contained parts may be removed from the cup I55 and carried to the chair. Meanwhile the cable will be paid off of the reel 200 so as to permit of such movement. Under other circumstances the remote control device may be. permanently mounted in a distant room or oflice wih the cablelead'ng to the machine so that control may be carried out from such distant point.

The control provides for a fixed panel control when in place in panel cup which eliminates the necessity of a dual set of controls for this purpose.

It will be seen, therefore, that this invention provides a phonograph which is entirely automatic in all of its operations. The magazine may be filled to its capacity with records of all kinds. Records of diiferent sizes may be placed in the magazine in any desired order, and will be played in that order. The various mechanisms adjust themselves automatically to the size of the record being played. It is pointed out, furthermore, that the two faces of each record are played in succession and it is not necessary to wait until all of the records in the maga zine have been played on one face of each before being able to play the reverse face of any one. This is a distinct advantage since it is the usual practice to put two or more parts of the same piece of music upon opposite sides of the same record, or even upon a series of records so that in order to render the composition complete it is necessary to play the face of the records in the proper order.

A feature which adds great convenience to this machine is the arrangement of circuits at the brushes A, B, C, D, E and F, whereby any desired operation may be carried out at the will of the operator without waiting for the automatic operation of the machine to bring it about. Thus, any record may be rejected or repeated, or

the reverse side thereof played, at any desiredtime.

When the machine is operating automatically and the last record has been played the magazine which receives the played records will have been filled. Accordingly further operation of the magazine will bring the last record therein against a yielding stop 2 so as to force said stop against a contact 2l2. This closes a circuit through conductor 2|3 of the solenoid I89 which operates to stop the machine.

It will be noted that the reproducer is so mounted as to move radially of the record. This is accomplished by mounting the reproducer carriage for movement along a radius of the playing table; at the same time the reproducer is mounted for free movement on its carriage in order to permit the needle to be guided by the record groove. This radial movement of the needle, as distinguished from a movement in an arc, reduces wear on both the record and the needle.

While the apparatus has been described as a unitary whole and arranged for operation in certain particular ways, it will be understood that other ways of operating the same may be found convenient and advantageous. It is furthermore to be understood that certain features or sub-combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to or the co-operation of other features or sub-combinations. These are contemplated as a part of this invention and are within the scope of the appended claims.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the details of construction and operation, within the scope of the appended claims,

without departing from the spirit of this inven-- tion. It is, therefore, to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and/or described.

' Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a phonograph having a playing table adapted to receive a record, moving means adapted to remove the record from the table, and a cam along the path of and engaging said removing means and operating to invert the rec- 0rd.

aosgsu 2. In a phonograph having a playing table adapted to receive a record, moving means adapted to remove the record from the table having a pin, and means along the path of said moving means providing a cam groove adapted to guide said pin so as to invert the record.

3. A phonograph, comprising, a playing table, a reproducing device adapted for cooperation with a record on said table, means for placing arecord on said table, and means adapted to move the record to centering position while being placed.

4. A phonograph, comprising, a playing table, a reproducing device adapted for cooperation with a record on said table, means for placing a record on said table, and means adjustable to records of different sizes adapted to move the record to centering position while being placed.

5. A phonograph, comprising, a playing table, a reproducing device adapted for cooperation with a record on said table, means for placing a record on said table adapted to hold the record eccentrically with respect to said table, and means for moving the record to concentric position while being placed on said table.

6. A phonograph, comprising, a playing table, a reproducing device adapted for cooperation with a record on said table, a yieldable center pin on said table, means for moving the record eccentrically against said pin, and means for moving the record to concentric position while enaged by said pin.

7. A phonograph, comprising, a playing table, a reproducing device adapted for cooperation with a record on said table, a yieldable center pin on said table, means for moving the record eccentrically against said pin, and means automatically adjustable to records of different sizes for moving the record to concentric position while engaged by said pin.

8. A phonograph, comprising, a playing table adapted to receive a record, a reproducing device mounted on a tone arm movable across the record, means actuated at the end of the playing of a record adapted to lift said tone arm from the record, means operating upon lifting of said tone arm adapted to return the same to the starting point of the record, an electromagnetically movable stop for said tone arm, a circuit for actuating said stop, and means for automatically energizing said circuit to move said stop.

9. A phonograph, comprising, a playing table adapted to receive a record, a reproducing device mounted on a tone arm movable across the record, means actuated at the end of the playing of a record adapted to lift said tone arm from the record, means operating upon lifting of said tone arm adapted to return the same to the starting point of the record, an electro-magnetically movable stop for said tone arm, a circuittherefor, and automatic means for selectively ehergizing said circuit in accordance with the size of the record to be played.

10. A phonograph, comprising, a playing table adapted to receive a record, a reproducing device mounted on a tone arm movable to follow the record groove across the record, means actuated in consequence of the travel of said tone arm a predetermined interval after said tone arm reaches the end of the record groove adapted to return said tone arm to the starting point of the record, and means actuated after a predetermined operation of said returning means adapted to invert the record. 

